The First Travel Journal

Everyone who takes a big trip comes back with stories. There is the photo of the beautiful place, but there is also the hassle: the bus that broke down, the rain that caught you off guard, the strange person who showed up along the way. If you put it all together in a little notebook, you get a travel journal. The book of Acts keeps that exact record: the journal of the apostle Paul's first great missionary journey.

In the last lesson we saw the route of this trip on the map. Now let's open the notebook and read what happened at the stops. There is a governor who converts, a sorcerer who tries to get in the way, people who hear Paul's longest sermon in Acts, and a city that drives the missionaries out with stones. In the middle of it all, one thing never changes: Paul proclaims Jesus from the Scriptures, to Jews and non-Jews alike, and does not give up in the face of resistance. This is the beginning of the story of how the Gospel left Israel and ran across the world — until it reached you.

I — The Stop in Paphos, Before the Governor

After Paul's first steps in ministry, the journey began with him, Barnabas, and John Mark being sent out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4). The first stop was Cyprus, Barnabas's home island. The boat arrived at Salamis, and right away they began speaking about Jesus in the synagogues (Acts 13:5). Then they crossed the entire island to Paphos, on the other side, preaching all the way.

In Paphos, the first major clash took place. There was Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of the region — an intelligent man who wanted to hear the Word of God. But with him was a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, or Elymas, who did everything he could to get in the way, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith (Acts 13:8). Sitting on the fence was not an option. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at the sorcerer and rebuked him: "and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?”" (Acts 13:10) Right then and there, Elymas went blind. And the governor, seeing what had happened, believed, astonished at the teaching of the Lord (Acts 13:12).

Notice the contrast. Two people heard the same Gospel and reacted in opposite ways: one opened up to God, while the other shut himself off and even tried to shut the door on his friend. Elymas did not just reject salvation — he wanted to keep someone else from receiving it. That leaves a very direct question for our lives: what kind of friend am I? The kind who brings people closer to God, or the kind who, with jokes, peer pressure, or mockery, pushes others away from the path?

בר In the original — Aramaic. Barjesus (Bar-Yeshua) means "Son of Salvation." The irony is harsh: the guy whose name meant "Son of Salvation" was using magic to block someone else's salvation. A nice name does not guarantee a right heart. Meanwhile, the nickname Elimas was tied to the idea of "magician, sorcerer" — the spiritual facade of a man who served darkness.

🏛 Archaeology — Sergius Paulus really existed. This governor is not a fictional character. An inscription found at Soloi, in northern Cyprus, mentions a "proconsul Paulus" serving on the island during the exact period of Acts, and the Roman writer Pliny the Elder cited a Sergius Paulus as an authority consulted on Cyprus. The Bible even gets the title right: Cyprus was a senatorial province, and therefore governed by a proconsul — not by an imperial prefect. Small detail, huge precision.

II — The Stop in Antioch, to Explain the Scriptures

From Cyprus, the missionaries sailed to Asia Minor and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. There John Mark decided to return to Jerusalem, and Paul and Barnabas went on alone, climbing the dangerous road up to Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:13, 14). It was there, in the synagogue, that Paul preached his longest sermon recorded in Acts (Acts 13:16-41).

And look at how he preached. Along the same lines as Peter's speech at Pentecost and Stephen's at his trial, Paul used the Old Testament to speak about Jesus. He retold the history of Israel from the exodus out of Egypt (Acts 13:17, 18), showed that Jesus was the promised descendant of King David (Acts 13:22, 23), and proved, through the Psalms and the Prophets, the meaning of the Messiah's death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:32-37). The conclusion is a statement that sums up the entire Gospel: through Him everyone who believes is justified (Acts 13:39). The Law pointed out sin, but had no power to wipe it away; only faith in Christ justifies.

Many Jews and converts to Judaism accepted the message and asked to hear more the following Sabbath, when almost the whole city showed up. But that success bothered some people. The leaders were filled with jealousy when they saw that crowd and began to contradict Paul. That was when he made a historic decision: since the Jews were rejecting the Word, the Gospel would go to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46) — fulfilling Isaiah, quoted in our Golden Text (Acts 13:47). There was conflict and expulsion, but the new converts were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52).

The journey continued. In Iconium, the same opposition. In Lystra, a paralyzed man was healed, and the crowd, amazed, even mistook Barnabas for the "god Jupiter" and Paul for "Mercury," wanting to offer sacrifices to them. The apostles tore that idea down immediately: those "gods" are useless; people must turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them (Acts 14:15). Since those people did not know the history of Israel, Paul changed his starting point — he began with creation, with the God who gives life and joy to all. Even so, it was hard to restrain the crowd. Teaching about Jesus is not always easy, but difficulty is no reason to stop.

🏛 Fun fact — the road of bandits. To reach Pisidian Antioch, Paul and Barnabas climbed more than a thousand meters in elevation along the Via Sebaste, a Roman military road, crossing the Taurus Mountains — a region notorious for dangerous gorges, flash floods, and robbers. Years later, Paul would recall those dangers from rivers and dangers from bandits (2 Corinthians 11:26). Comfort was not part of the missionary package.

🕊 Our reading. Acts 13:48 says that those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Some use this verse to say that God had already chosen beforehand who would be saved and who would not. But read it alongside verse 46: the Jews judged themselves unworthy and rejected it on purpose; the Gentiles were willing and did not resist. The Pentecostal reading, in the tradition of the Assemblies of God, understands that the text does not speak of an eternal decree, but of grace working in that moment upon hearts that opened up. Salvation is genuinely offered to everyone who believes (Acts 13:39). God calls; the response is yours.

III — The Final Stage of the Journey

The journal still had a heavy page left. The Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who could not stand Paul, followed him all the way to Lystra, stirred up the crowd, and stoned the apostle, leaving him for dead (Acts 14:19) — the former persecutor had become the persecuted. It looks like the end, but it wasn't. Paul got up and, with Barnabas, went on to Derbe.

Did they lose heart because of the persecution? Not at all. They made the return trip by passing right back through the cities where they had already preached — Lystra, Iconium, Antioch — to strengthen the new converts and encourage the brothers and sisters to remain true to the faith (Acts 14:22). Then they returned to their starting point, Antioch in Syria, and gathered the church to tell everything God had done in each place (Acts 14:27). The first travel journal ended up becoming a report of gratitude.

This final stage teaches something we really need to hear: the strength not to give up did not come from Paul's natural courage, but from the Holy Spirit. Persecution, stoning, expulsion — none of that snuffed out the mission. Where it looked like defeat, a church was born.

Christ in the Lesson

It is easy to read this chapter and only remember the adventures: the blind sorcerer, the stoning, the mix-up with the Greek gods. But the entire journal has a single center, and His name is Jesus.

In Paphos, it was the name of Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, that silenced the magic of Elymas — the Gospel is greater than any spell, ideology, or influence of darkness. In Antioch, Paul showed that the whole Bible points to Christ: He is the rightful heir to David's throne, the One who died, yet whose body did not decay, because He rose again (Acts 13:35-37). And the heart of the sermon is that forgiveness does not come from religious effort, but from faith in Him: through Him everyone who believes is justified (Acts 13:39). The Golden Text completes the picture — Jesus is the light for the Gentiles, salvation to the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). The whole journey exists because of Him and points to Him.

Practical Application

Choose what kind of friend you are. Elymas pushed away; Barnabas brought closer. In your class, in your friend group, in your family, do you nudge people toward Jesus or away from Him? A comment, an invitation, an example — all of that can be a signpost pointing the right way.

Do not back down in the face of mockery. Paul was contradicted, ridiculed, and even stoned, and he kept going. When people mock your faith at school or on social media, remember: the strength to keep going is not yours; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for boldness.

Rejoice in the growth of others. Jealousy blinded the leaders in Antioch. In the kingdom of God there is no competition, only cooperation. If a brother or sister in the youth group stands out in a gift you wished you had, celebrate instead of competing.

Speak about Jesus from the Word. Paul did not make up arguments; he opened the Scriptures. You do not need to have the answer to everything — you need to know the Bible and point to Christ. Start reading, so you have something to share.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You because Your Gospel did not stop in Israel, but ran across the world until it reached us. Just as You sent Paul and Barnabas with the power of the Holy Spirit, fill us too with courage to speak about You without fear of mockery. Keep us from being an "Elymas" in someone's life; make us signposts that point to the Way. And when pressure comes, give us the same steadfastness that raised Paul up after the stoning. You are the light for the Gentiles, our salvation. In Your name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture rules; everything else, on its knees.

Teacher's Guide

Essence of the lesson

The Gospel travels from city to city grounded in the Scriptures and pointing to Christ — and it does not back down in the face of resistance.

Class map

Time	Stage
0–5 min	Opening (the hook of the two reactions)
5–15 min	Point 1 — Paphos: two friends, two responses
15–22 min	Class activity — "The hacked signpost"
22–33 min	Point 2 — Antioch: Jesus in the Scriptures + the turn to the Gentiles
33–40 min	Point 3 — Lystra: stoning and perseverance
40–45 min	If they ask you this + wrap-up + challenge + prayer

Start like this

Start by asking: "Has anyone ever tried to talk you into quitting something good you had started?" Let two or three students share. Stories will probably come up about a friend who made fun of them, or a group that pulled them toward the wrong thing. Hold on to those answers and say: "Today Paul's travel journal shows that exact thing — people who draw others closer to God and people who push them away. And it shows how not to stop."

Point 1 — Paphos: two friends, two responses

• In the quarterly: Topic I ("The Stop in Paphos, Before the Governor").
• What to teach: the governor Sergius Paulus wanted to hear the Word; the sorcerer Elymas tried to stop him. Faced with the same Gospel, one opened up and believed, while the other opposed it and went blind. The question that remains: am I a friend who draws people closer to God or pushes them away?
• Anchor verse: "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord." (Acts 13:12)
• Key question: "In practice, what does a friend do to bring someone closer to Jesus — and what do they do to push them away?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): inviting to church, praying, setting an example / mocking, pressuring, embarrassing. Go deeper: "And when the person pushing others away is the most popular kid in the group — is it possible to go against the flow?"
• If no one speaks up: share a simple situation ("there was a time a friend invited me to..."), and the class will open up.

Point 2 — Antioch: Jesus in the Scriptures and the turn to the Gentiles

• In the quarterly: Topic II ("The Stop in Pisidian Antioch, to Explain the Scriptures").
• What to teach: Paul preached his longest sermon in Acts by opening the Old Testament to show Jesus — the descendant of David, who died and rose again, and who justifies everyone who believes (Acts 13:39). When the Jews rejected it out of jealousy, the Gospel went on to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46, 47).
• Anchor verse: "Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)
• Key question: "If the Law could not save anyone, what does faith in Jesus alone solve?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): truly forgives, takes away guilt, gives eternal life. Go deeper: "So can you 'earn' heaven by being a good kid, or is it a gift received by faith?"
• If no one speaks up: read Acts 13:38, 39 out loud and ask again, more slowly.

Point 3 — Lystra: stoning and perseverance

• In the quarterly: Topic III ("The Final Stage of the Journey").
• What to teach: Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead, but he got up and kept going, even returning to strengthen the converts (Acts 14:19-22). His strength came from the Holy Spirit, not from natural courage.
• Anchor verse: "strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said." (Acts 14:22)
• Key question: "What makes someone stand firm even when being a Christian comes at a high cost?"
• Likely answers (+ going deeper): faith, friends, the Holy Spirit. Go deeper: "Where did Paul get the strength to go right back to the cities that had persecuted him?"
• If no one speaks up: compare it to an athlete who takes a hard hit in a game and gets back on the field — then show that Paul's strength had a greater source.

Class activity

• Objective: to feel the role of "Elymas": someone who should point the way, but misleads instead.
• Materials: a paper sign or arrow reading "THE WAY," and a sticker/label to stick over it changing the direction (an arrow pointing the wrong way).
• Step by step: show the sign pointing the right way and say that Bar-Jesus, "Son of Salvation," was supposed to be a sign like that. Then stick the label over it, turning the arrow toward a pit: "that is what the devil did with him — a hacked signpost, pointing toward the abyss." Peel off the label and show the right arrow again: Paul's rebuke took the false sign out of the way, and the governor saw the light.
• Wrap-up (back to the text): "Today the 'Elymases' show up as mockery, ideology, and influencers who ridicule the Bible. Each one of us is a signpost: either I point my friends toward Jesus, or away from Him" (Acts 13:10-12).

If they ask you this

• Question: "Doesn't Acts 13:48 say that God already chose who is going to be saved?" Short answer: Read verse 46 alongside it — the Jews judged themselves unworthy and rejected it on purpose; the Gentiles were willing. We understand that the text speaks of grace working right there, upon those who opened up, not of a destiny locked in before birth. Salvation is for everyone who believes (Acts 13:39).
• Question: "If God is good, why did He let Paul get beaten and stoned?" Short answer: God did not promise a life without opposition; He promised His presence in the middle of it. The stoning did not stop the mission — after it, more churches were born, and Paul's strength came from the Spirit (Acts 14:22).

Wrap-up + challenge of the week

• Wrap-up: "The first travel journal begins with a converted governor and ends with a stoned apostle who does not give up. In the middle, one single name: Jesus, the light for the Gentiles (Acts 13:47). This Gospel reached us by word of mouth — and now it is up to us to keep the journey going."
• Challenge: this week, be a "signpost" for one specific person: tell them, looking them in the eye, one concrete thing Jesus has done in your life. Come back on Sunday with the story.

Teacher's kit

• Beforehand: read Acts 13 and 14 and the topic in the quarterly; set aside the sign and the sticker for the class activity.
• Bring: your Bible, "THE WAY" sign, and the sticker.
• Pray beforehand: ask the Lord for boldness so the class will share their testimony without fear of mockery (the closing prayer of the article works well here).

Homework

Your mission for the week

Choose one person — a friend, a classmate, someone in your family — and tell them, looking them in the eye, one concrete thing Jesus has already done in your life. It doesn't need to be a sermon: a short, true story is enough.

Why

Paul preached Jesus from what he knew of the Scriptures, to anyone willing to listen, without backing down in the face of mockery (Acts 13:47). You are also a "signpost": either you point people to Jesus, or you stay silent. The Gospel moves forward when someone opens their mouth.

How to know you did it

You can say the person's name and what you told them. If there is a name and a story, you did it.

On Sunday, come back with the story

The next class starts with those who took on the challenge. Bring your account — the travel journal continues with you.